As days passed, the elven capital slowly recovered, and the World Tree began to regain its strength. Ioelena worked tirelessly to heal the damage caused by Dean, and her efforts paid off as the World Tree started to regrow its damaged bark along with the corrupt forest.

Leaves began falling from the world tree, covering the entire forest in a serene atmosphere. A leaf landed on William's head, so he extended his hand and picked it up. The leaf was almost as big as his entire head, and this was one of the smallest ones. A proper leaf was usually at least two meters long.

Glancing at the leaf, he examined it closely, noticing that it seemed relatively healthy. The only odd part was the veins of purple running through it.

This was clearly the method the world tree was using to deal with the contamination, removing all of the demonic energy by extracting it from its body into the leaves.

Ioelana was still attending to the world tree, her figure seeming emaciated after a prolonged period of staying stationary and constantly draining her mana and aura to supply it to the world tree, but no one dared to stop her.

The elven mages used multiple spells on her body, but spells could only do so much. She needed to consume potions or herbal treasures for her body to truly recover.

While losing himself at the sight of the countless giant falling leaves, William entered a trance-like state without realizing it.

After a few seconds of silence, William opened his eyes, finding himself standing next to a colorful waterfall that strangely produced no sound. Not recognizing where he was, he frowned, not understanding what was happening.

Waving his finger, he tried to conjure his mana to create a magic circle, but nothing happened. This made his frown deepen as he attempted to use his aura and Aspect but to no avail.

Since none of his abilities worked, unease crept into his heart. Looking at his neck, he found that the time crystal was still there, so he held it in his hand, its warmth somehow giving him a slight comfort in this scenario.

'Wait, warmth? Didn't that only happen when the crystal was activated?'

He thought, alarmed. Putting the crystal closer to his face, he noticed that it was still in the form of an amulet and that the light it gave off was extremely dim. It was clearly not active, so he couldn't comprehend why it was emitting heat.

"Attribute crystals sure are unique, and I'm impressed to think that they even work inside my Soul Domain."

Suddenly, a feminine voice could be heard right behind William, shocking him greatly. Turning around in a hurry, he found himself staring at a woman whose entire body was made out of roots.

Despite being made out of roots, the woman's face was smooth and flawless, giving her a strange vibe, since she looked like a mix between an elf and a treant. Her head was covered by crown-like leaves, glowing with a mystical light.

"You don't have to look at me like that. I know that you mages find spirits fascinating, but don't stare too much."

Said the woman, clearly making fun of William, who was utterly lost by her appearance.

Taken aback by her words, William shook his head and asked. He had suspicions about the situation but had to confirm his doubts first.

"Who are you? What is this place?"

Hearing his questions, the woman was slightly disappointed but still answered.

"I expected someone who has returned from the future to be able to recognize me, but it seems like I had perished in your time."

Her words shocked William even further, but he understood what she was talking about.

"The World Tree?"

He muttered in disbelief, not comprehending her words for a moment. However, his expression turned pale after a second as her words finally caught up.

"Hahaha, don't look at me like that. I just invited you over to have a little chat. You see, I'm extremely thankful to you and your companions for saving me. Plus, since you are someone from a future timeline, this adds a bit more interest to my mundane life. Those elves just worship me, so besides Ioelena, I haven't been able to talk to others properly in a long time."

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"At first, I was going to bring one of the Aura saints here, but after looking around, I noticed a strange presence. Who would have thought that the time crystal was with you all along, though I can't see further behind to its previous location? Such a strange attribute crystal."

Yggdrasil, the World Tree, spoke rapidly, not giving William enough time to recover from his shock.

William's mind was spinning with a mix of excitement and disbelief. Conversing with the sentient being that was the World Tree was an unimaginable opportunity. He could finally learn some secrets he couldn't get a hold of in the previous timeline and befriend a God Spirit. He took a moment to collect himself and then replied.

"I am honored to have the chance to speak with you, Lady Yggdrasil. Your presence and wisdom are truly awe-inspiring."

Yggdrasil chuckled softly, the sound resonating through the air. She was as God Spirit, the spirit responsible for upholding a portion of the world, just like the other four God Spirits.

"Oh, there's no need for such formalities, young one. We are simply conversing between two beings, albeit from different times. I have been watching over this land for centuries, witnessing the rise and fall of civilizations. I promise you, after the first demonic invasion, nothing bugs this old one anymore. It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to connect with someone like you."

She said, making their two figures vanish and reappear in a place more suitable for a conversation. William found himself seated on top of a soft chair. In front of him was a small round table with tea already served and a dessert on the side. William glanced at the smiling Yggdrasil, speechless, not knowing how to feel.

Sighing, he took the cup from the table and took a slight sip, his heart calming down. He knew that this would be a long conversation. He had a lot of things to ask the World Tree, and he was prepared to answer any of her inquiries.

----------------------------------------

Nar, central swamp.

Nar was a nation mainly inhabited by Druids who would spend most of their lives in their domains.

Druids were beings who connected with nature on a deeper level. They were a race derived from a mix of humans and Ents. They usually possessed either of two abilities: the ability to morph into animals of a specific kind or the ability to manipulate plants.

At the moment, a young Druid with long, curly brown hair was being scolded.

The young Druid only smiled, not reacting to the reprimands of his superior. Angry, the superior screamed.

"GYMORIS, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS MONTH THAT YOU RETURNED COMPLETELY DRUNK! DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO STOP GOING TO THE HUMAN TOWNS?"

Screamed the senior Druid in rage, not understanding how such a druid like Gymoris existed.

Gymoris was blessed with both abilities; he could transform into a wolf and also use plants to his advantage. For that reason, he was one of the most powerful juniors despite being only seventeen this year.

However, Gymoris had one significant flaw: He was too carefree, to the point of getting drunk on numerous solemn occasions and even causing quite a few accidents that they had to solve. Thankfully, Gymoris wasn't the Hero of the druids in this generation; otherwise, they wouldn't even dare show their faces to the other Hero families.

The senior Druid's name was Ashcovert. He was a man with a healthy brown beard who wore beast cloth, like all the druids.

Ashcovert's face flushed with anger as he confronted Gymoris, but the young Druid seemed unfazed by the scolding. He maintained a relaxed expression, his eyes glimmering with mischief.

"Come on, Ashcovert, lighten up! Life is too short to be serious all the time; besides, human towns have some interesting things to offer. I can't resist the temptation."

Gymoris replied, flashing a mischievous grin.

Ashcovert sighed heavily, clearly exasperated by Gymoris' carefree attitude.

"Gymoris, being a druid carries great responsibilities. Our connection to nature and the powers bestowed upon us should not be taken lightly. It is our duty to protect the balance and harmony of the natural world."

Gymoris shrugged casually.

"I understand that Ashcovert, but it's not like I'm causing any harm. I'm just having a bit of fun."

Ashcovert's expression softened as he looked at Gymoris, his voice filled with concern.

"It's more than just having fun, Gymoris. Your actions reflect on all of us, and it's important to uphold the honor and dignity of our order. You have a great potential within you, but it will go to waste if you don't learn to focus and channel your abilities for the greater good."

Gymoris paused for a moment, his playful demeanor fading slightly. He looked down at his hands, contemplating Ashcovert's words. Deep down, he knew that his carefree nature had caused trouble and prevented him from reaching his full potential.

"You're right, Ashcovert, I've been selfish and reckless, and I apologize for tarnishing the reputation of our order. I will do my best to change and prove myself worthy of being a druid."

Gymoris finally admitted it with a hint of determination in his voice.

Ashcovert nodded, a faint smile forming on his lips.

"I believe in you, Gymoris. You have the potential to become a great druid, and I hope you realize the importance of your role. Embrace the responsibilities that come with your abilities, and you will find fulfillment in preserving the balance of nature."

Gymoris looked up, meeting Ashcovert's gaze with a newfound determination.

"I won't let you down, Ashcovert. I'll train harder and dedicate myself to the principles of our order. I want to make amends for my past actions and become a druid that brings honor to our name."

Ashcovert's smile widened.

"That's the spirit, Gymoris. Remember, growth and change come from within. The path of a druid is not an easy one, but with dedication and perseverance, you will find your true purpose."

Gymoris nodded. However, a sense of mischief could still be seen in his eyes, as if all the words he had just spouted were just a guise. Agreeing with Ashcovert, he made a determined expression.

However, as soon as he parted ways with Ashcovert, he broke out laughing.

"As if I'd stop drinking and going out! Are you insane, old man? What's the point of living if you're not having fun!"